KEY POINTS
- Zimbabwe’s VP Kembo Mohadi seeks early retirement due to worsening health, leaving a key vacancy in the country’s leadership.
- Potential successors include top ZANU-PF figures such as Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri and Owen Ncube, with Mnangagwa’s choice likely to influence future party dynamics.
- Mohadi’s exit raises political uncertainty amid Zimbabwe’s economic struggles, with opposition groups demanding a transparent succession process.
Zimbabwe’s Vice President, Kembo Mohadi, has formally requested President Emmerson Mnangagwa to allow him to retire from office, citing deteriorating health.
The announcement, made during a high-level meeting in Harare, has sparked discussions about potential successors and the future of the country’s leadership structure.
“I have served my country with dedication, but my health no longer permits me to continue at full capacity,” Mohadi reportedly told Mnangagwa. The 72-year-old vice president has faced multiple health challenges in recent years, including undisclosed ailments that have limited his public appearances. His decision comes amid growing political tension within the ruling ZANU-PF party, where factional battles over succession plans have intensified.
Mnangagwa faces tough decision as ZANU-PF weighs replacement options
With Mohadi’s impending exit, attention has shifted to who might fill the vacant vice presidency. Analysts suggest that President Mnangagwa will likely choose a loyalist to maintain stability within the party. Among the frontrunners are Defence Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri, former State Security Minister Owen Ncube, and ZANU-PF Secretary for Security Lovemore Matuke.
“The succession battle will test Mnangagwa’s ability to balance party unity with personal loyalty,” said political analyst Rejoice Ngwenya. “Whoever is appointed will signal the president’s preferred direction ahead of the 2028 elections.”
Mohadi’s tenure has been marred by controversy, including a 2021 scandal involving alleged extramarital affairs, which led to his temporary resignation before he was later cleared and reinstated.
MyZimbabwe reports that his departure now raises questions about Zimbabwe’s political stability, particularly as the country grapples with economic crises, including hyperinflation and a weakening currency.
The ruling party is expected to convene an emergency politburo meeting to discuss Mohadi’s replacement. Meanwhile, opposition leaders have called for transparency in the selection process, warning against backroom deals that could deepen divisions within ZANU-PF.
